A view of the new tunnel being constructed near Wakrah Metro station: Ram Chand

Text Size:AAA

Doha

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) on Sunday announced that it will open sections of Al Wakra Main Road and a strategic link road between Doha Expressway, the southern part of Doha Express Highway, E Ring Road, F Ring Road and G Ring Road as well as most parts of Al Watiyyat Interchange on F Ring Road, on Tuesday to coincide with Qatar National Day.

Highway Project Department assistant manager Bader Darweesh said that the opening of 3.5km of main carriageway will make for three lanes in each direction and a 126m underpass with two lanes in each direction, extending from Barwa Village east Airport Interchange on G Ring Road to the existing Pearl Roundabout.

The delivery of the upgraded road will provide free-flow traffic movement between Mesaieed and Al Wakra City and Doha (via Airport Interchange), seamless travel along the main carriageway and easy access to local destinations via efficient traffic movements at the junctions.

In May, Ashghal launched construction works to upgrade 9km of Al Wakra Main Road. The project will deliver three lanes in each direction including an underpass that will span between Al Wakra City and Doha. As with many other projects on Ashghal's Expressway programme, the project will also deliver 6.1km of pedestrian and cycle paths to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.

Upon completion of the project in the second quarter of 2020, Ashghal anticipates that the upgraded 9km road that will connect Al Wakra to Doha via Airport Interchange (G Ring Road), will significantly enhance the travel experience of road users in the area.

Travel time from Al Matar Street up to Pearl Roundabout will be reduced by approximately 50% due to increased lane capacity to accommodate up to 600 vehicles per hour and free-flow traffic movements. The replacement of existing roundabouts with signalised junctions will contribute towards increasing road safety and improving efficiency of traffic movements.

The opening of the five eastbound lanes of main carriageway will provide road users with a 3km free-flow stretch linking Doha Expressway, Industrial Area Road, Rawdat Al Khail Street and E Ring Road to Al Watiyyat Interchange where they can get on F Ring Road to reach Hamad International Airport and Abu Hamour Area or continue straight towards Al Wakra or Mesaieed Area without passing through Al wakra via the southern part of Doha Express Highway.

Meanwhile, Ashghal will continue to work on the under-construction westbound lanes to facilitate the access of road users coming from Al Wakra and Al Wukair towards Doha via the newly-availed road.

The other section of Al Watiyyat Interchange that will be open for public use is a 1.25km ramp bridge that will accommodate traffic coming north of Al Watiyyat Interchange and heading towards the Hamad International Airport through eastbound carriageway of F Ring Road.